By Bob Gaetjens
The Gateway News
STREETSBORO — Voters will decide Tuesday whether to approve Issue 1, a 9.5-mill, continuous operating levy for the school system.
The levy would raise about $4 million per year, according to Treasurer Neil Barnes, but that would be offset by a 3.5-mill school levy that is set to expire at the end of the 2010.
Voters rejected a 9.5-mill school levy in November, with 44 percent of voters casting ballots for it and 56 percent voting against.
With passage, the district would experience a net increase of $2.7 million per year, according to Barnes. Because of the timing of property tax collections, only half of that would be available for the 2010-11 school year, he added.
Collections on Issue 1 would begin in 2011, he said.
The owner of a $100,000 home would pay $199 in additional taxes, if Issue 1 is approved, according to Barnes.
The district has already reduced its expenses by nearly $1.3 million, through a mix of cuts, efficiencies, and lower-than-expected actual expenditures in some areas, according to Barnes.
Without levy passage, more cuts are possible next year, said School Board member Kevin Grimm.
“What’s at stake is the future of our school district, whether we’re going to offer the same kinds of classes and the same quality of programs or whether we’re going to have cut even more and only offer the very basics,” he said.
The School Board has cut the director of pupil services, a computer technician, nine bus drivers, a mechanic, two library aides, seven custodians, and 11 playground aides the levy failed in November, according to Barnes.
The district has also experienced what Barnes calls “favorable variances” in areas such as utilities costs, workers’ compensation costs, and property tax collection fees. It has also used federal grant money to retain a variety of tutors and coaches rather than paying them through the general fund.
The district entered the school year facing a cash deficit of more than $900,000, he added.
Flagging finances for the district affect more than parents and students, said Grimm. If the levy fails, Grimm said he’s concerned families may flee the city for more financially stable districts.
“I’ve been hearing that a lot from people lately,” he said.
As a result, property values could begin falling for all residents, he said
Resident Todd Teitel said he believes flight and flagging home values have already taken hold, with homes in Streetsboro remaining the market longer and selling further below asking prices than in neighboring communities.
“This boils down to a lot more than what you’re going to pay in taxes,” he said. “[If the issue fails,] people won’t want to come here anymore.”
Teitel said he feels being on a fixed income is not a good reason to reject the levy.
“With no raises being given, you’re on a fixed income whether you’re making $120,000 or $20,000,” he said. “I lost my fixed income when my company downsized.”